Updated at 5.50pm

People tempted by the prospect of a free meal waded into rough seas at Xemxija on Sunday afternoon, ignoring official warnings to stay indoors and safe.

Videos uploaded to social media on Sunday morning showed pedestrians scurrying across the Xemxija promenade to pick up fish flung ashore by the high waves. 

A man is helped out of the sea after waves swept him away at Xemxija. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Another video suggested some of the makeshift fishermen went one step further and braved the vicious waves. 

"One of the fish farms must have broken open and there are hundreds of fish being washed ashore... and people are picking them up from the middle of the street - unbelievable," said Rene Rossignaud who uploaded the video.

Large waves have assailed the south east coast of the island, wreaking havoc especially in St Julian's and St Paul's Bay.